Sports

The world of sports is changing at a rapid pace. Clubs, sports federations, athletes, event organizers, sponsors, and broadcasters are constantly seeking to balance sports and commercial interests in a complex international legal environment. New markets are opening, the world of media rights is shifting and stadiums are transforming to offer interactive experiences. We work with clients around the globe, in multidisciplinary, multi-location teams to provide our clients with the competitive advantage they need.

We have served as outside counsel for both domestic and international sports federations, teams and individual athletes across a number of sports, including golf, football, Formula 1, tennis, basketball, rugby, sailing, American football, ice hockey and baseball.

Our breadth of resources and decades of experience enable us to handle the full range of legal challenges faced by clients in the sports sector.

Our sports practice reflects that very broad range of expertise that is required to succeed in sports including:

Private equity and M&A

Advising clubs and federations on new types of investment in sports that are changing the financial parameters of sports.

Antitrust

Advising on high-profile sports matters that are shaping the outlook of the sports industry potentially for decades to come.

Disputes 

Advising on landmark disputes affecting the industry in domestic courts, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other arbitration centers, as well as before the European Court of Justice. Our sports lawyers have acted for international sports federations, as well as event organizers, clubs and individual athletes, and act as arbitrators at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on high-profile disputes.  Our top-tier international disputes practice has a deep bench of experienced trial lawyers and litigators that have handled disputes for sovereign as well as private clients around the world.

Intellectual property and technology

Advising clients on trademark matters and sponsorship arrangements as well as on new technological developments such as the rise of NFTs and counseling clients on data licensing in a world where data is essential to innovative broadcasting, as well as betting and gambling.

We advise clubs and federations seeking to future-proof their sport by building a technological bridge with new consumers as they consider smart stadiums, deeper fan engagement and involvement in e-sports tournaments.

Regulatory

Advising our clients on the regulatory landscape and the web of rules of national, regional and international sports federations that apply or could be applied, as the sports world seeks to ensure a stable, fair and competitive sports environment by exploring different types of budget or cost caps, financial fair play mechanisms, rules on multi-club ownership or the role of private equity or sovereign wealth funds.

Business and human rights

Advising our clients on political developments and the role of international treaties, as the sports world operates in a truly global world seeking to overcome cultural and other differences.

International trade and sanctions

Advising on a number of high-profile sports deals that require sanctions-related advice and counseling sports companies on trade-related measures and supply chain due diligence requirements imposed around the world.

Swiss law

Our Geneva office provides a foothold in Switzerland, the home of most international sports federations and the seat of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Clients benefit from our in-depth knowledge of Swiss law and experience with handling arbitrations in Switzerland.

Our global reach

The substantive breadth of our sports practice is supplemented by an equally broad geographical spread as our 44 offices in 30 countries allow us to support our clients globally to reflect the ever-greater reach of sports around the world. We understand the professional nature of US sports and its well-developed set of rules and regulations, but are equally well equipped to advise on the development of sports policy and the organization of global events in emerging markets or in the European Union and its "European Sports Model."

Our commitment to each region of the world is substantial, and our group includes lawyers from EMEA, APAC and the Americas. We have the experience and coverage to advise our sports industry clients where they currently do business, and in the locations into which they are looking to expand.